|
How
Moorcroft began...
This
history of Moorcroft was kindly put together by Mrs.
Jenny Ball, the wife of Mr. David Ball, both of who, as
you will see late, played a large role in Moorcroft's
past. Thank you Jenny.
Ever
wondered about the evolution of veterinary work?
Probably
not I would guess. Did you know that a vets work load
has changed dramatically over the centuries. Initially
of course large animals used for food or for working were our
main patients, those worth an owner paying some one to
fix! Which meant horses primarily, followed by farm animal and then some where
in the background came pets.
Then motor vehicles took over from working horses and
the number of horses dropped dramatically; they became companion
animals. At this point farm
work became the main role of a vet, with dogs and horses
seen much less often, cats very rarely, and of course
bunnies, hamsters and birds non existent.
Since
then things have balanced out a bit more. People have
come to regard their pets as family members and the
level of care you want for your furry and feathered family
members has increased hugely.
So
where many practices were predominantly farm and horse
based, with a small proportion of work being family pet care, this has shifted
considerably to our current day situation where a lot of
practices have become purely small animal based.
Moorcroft
began life after the onset of motor vehicles but
essentially has followed that pattern from that stage
on. Well, I thought it was interesting.
Moorcroft from conception to current date...
Life for
Moorcroft began with Mr. Heath in 1940/44. He and his
wife single handedly ran a farm animal/horse based practice on Abbotsbury Road.
In 1955
Mr. Peter Clarke Williams bought the practice from him,
moving to our current address at 223 Dorchester Road 6
months later.
The house name was Moorcroft originally
but he and his wife decided to rename it 'Rousdon'.
Peter ran the practice single handed for 2 years then
employed an assistant
vet to help. It was common
place for vets to live in their work premises until
recently and Moorcroft was no different. They turned the
upstairs into one flat and the top floor into another.
In 1960
David Ball took over from the assistant and became
Peters partner, forming 'Clarke Williams and Ball'. A
partnership some of our clients still remember!
They
all lived at Moorcroft, Jenny Ball looking after the Williams
children while she was expecting her first so that
Peters wife Frankie could work in the surgery with David
and Peter. This is all still predominately farm animal
based work of course. At this time the practices land
extended right down to the railway line behind it and it
was decided to build a house for one of the families to
move into. In the end it was the Williams family who
occupied it while the Balls stayed at the practice.
In 1970
Peter Williams retired and the Balls ran the practice
single handed again. This proved very hard work and in
1973/74 they were joined by Roger Lewis who soon became
a partner, and 'Ball & Lewis' was born. (At some point
the second house was sold and is now a private
residence.)
David
Ball retired. Up until this point the practice had been
one third farm animal, two thirds pets. Roger decided
now was the time to concentrate fully on the companion
animal side of the practice. Graham Horth became Rogers
partner and the practice reverted to the
original name of the house 'Moorcroft'. They expanded it to a three vet
practice, with the branch premises at Easton which has
been a great success.
Sadly in
2005 Roger had to retire due to ill health and Graham
now runs the practice single handed (with a little help
from his wonderful staff of course!). Which takes us to
today's 3 vet, 2 premises small animal practice;
Moorcroft Veterinary Practice.
Roger Lewis
passed away in 2007. He has always been respected and
loved by
staff and clients alike and is sadly missed.
|